22/09/2011 : Fourth session of the workshop at Small Idea Bookshop, in Yonghe, New Taipei City, Taiwan.

We listened to the works of Bernard Fort, extracted from his CD “Compositions Ornithologiques“.
And inevitably we discussed about Jakob Von Uexküll and his Umwelt concept.

Then we discussed about personal projects of the participants and listened to some sound recordings made in Zhonghe/Yonghe. Soon (well, let’s hope), this post will be updated with extracts and informations about these recordings.

九月十五日：在永和小小書房的第三堂聲音工作坊

本週由許雁婷介紹關於嘉義聲音計畫，可以在這個計畫的部落格上找到更多資訊和聆聽其他聲音：http://chiayisound.blogspot.com/

在討論結束後，忘了為各位解答，一開始播放的聲音。那是阿里山鄒族在一年中最重要的小米收穫祭 homeyaya 開始時，長老們聚集在頭目家的祭屋中，由頭目領唱的吟念歌謠 tu-e，歌詞內容敘述著過去戰爭中走過的路徑。收穫祭於焉開始。

還有其中播放的榻榻米機器聲音，還有另一個版本，是從另個角度錄音的，請聽：
http://chiayisound.blogspot.com/2009/09/100909-last-song-of-old-machine-of.html

也別錯過雁婷在Arte Radio上的創作“排灣族的歌”：http://www.arteradio.com/son/615907/Songs_from_the_Paiwan

另外我們討論到各位和永和相關的個人計畫。希望本週每位參與者都能多少有些更清楚的想法。請別忘了在這篇文章留下關於計畫敘述的留言喔！

關於價格合理的可攜式錄音設備：建議盡量避免便宜的錄音筆，那會浪費時間和金錢；並建議購買品質良好的耳機（為了聆聽田野錄音的內容，這是絕對必需的）。

我們時常推薦的是，Sony PCM0D50錄音機、Sony MDR-7506耳機，以及AD-PCM1防風罩（一樣絕對需要！）。這些在台灣都很容易找到，對於非專業的個人使用者來說也不會太昂貴，品質也好。此外以下幾個機器，也有不錯的評價：Olympus LS-11, Zoom H2, Zoom H4n, Tascam DR-100, Tascam DR2D …等等。要去比較這些品牌型號相當耗時，所以建議找一家都有販售的專業店面，直接試用！別忘了耳機和防風罩。

請記得唯有在真實環境中聆聽的專注力，能夠讓你錄到有趣的聲音。先在家使用你的新器材試著錄下許多不同的聲音，例如冰箱的嗡嗡聲、廚具的碰撞聲、鄰居吵架的聲音，或者貓咪晚上的叫聲…。然後非常仔細的聆聽這些錄音。直到完全熟悉這個新玩意，就出門試試吧！祝好運！

(thank you Yen-Ting for the translations !

15/09/2011 : Third session of the workshop at Small Idea Bookshop, in Yonghe, New Taipei City, Taiwan.

This session was held by Yen-Ting Hsu, about the Chiayi Sound Project. You can  find more informations and other sounds of this archive project on the following blog : http://chiayisound.blogspot.com/
Don’t miss the creation by Yen-Ting for Arte-Radio, “the Songs from the Paiwan” : http://www.arteradio.com/son/615907/Songs_from_the_Paiwan

We also discussed a bit about the personal projects related to Yonghe. Let’s hope that this week, everyone will have a more or less precise idea about it. Please don’t forget to add a comment to this article with a short description of your project.

We were asked several times about “affordable” and portable sound recording equipment. We can at least recommend for those interested into buying something : to get a reasonable equipment (avoid these cheap stylus recorders, they’re just a waste of time and money) and get an excellent pair of headphones (that’s mandatory for listening what you’re recording in the field).

One small system that we often recommend is SONY PCM-D50 and SONY MDR-7506 with the wind protection AD-PCM1 (also a mandatory buy !). Those are easy to find in Taiwan, not too much expensive for a non-professional individual and can allow very nice work.
We also heard good feedback about the following machines : Olympus LS-11, Zoom H2, Zoom H4n, Tascam DR-100, Tascam DR2D and many others. To make a comparison between all these models would be highly time-consuming, so we recommend to find a shop who has different models and try them ! Don’t forget the headphones and windshield. Please remember that only the attention you pay to listening in the field can allow to get interesting recordings. Make many experiences at home with your new equipment (for example you can record the humming of your fridge, all the sounds of ustensils in your kitchen, your neighboorhood’s fighting or the cats screaming during the night, then listen to all of these recordings very carefully) until your totally familiar with it, then go out ! Good luck.

08/09/2011 : Second session of the workshop at Small Idea Bookshop, in Yonghe, New Taipei City, Taiwan.

Topics/Themes :
Auditory scenes <-> Soundscapes
Field recordings <-> Phonography
Sound anecdotes <-> Sonic postcards
Sound recording <-> Story-telling
Collective memory <-> Subjective perception

References :
1. Peter Cusack “Baikal Ice” (track 4 “Port Baikal Weird”)
2. Quiet American “Plumbing and Irrigation of South Asia” (track 6 “Communal Well)
3. Peter Cusack “Favourite Beijing Sounds” (track 8 “Chinese Dates Falling Into Bowls”)
4. “The Sounds of Railways in Taiwan” (track 6 “The Mt. Ali Forest Train runs on the Z-shaped third branch way”)
5. Alan Lamb “Night Passage” (track 3 “Meditation on Spring 8″)

Next exercice : Choose a sound location or a sound phenomena and discuss it from the point of vue of the users, inhabitants or passers by). Imagine or make interview about the signification of the sound. Shared subjectivities and and socio-cultural descriptions.

九月一日：在永和小小書房的第一堂課

主題：什麼是聲音 - 如何描述一個聲音 - 能量，頻率和空間

課程中播放的一段聲音是一位法國聲音藝術家 Marc Namblard的錄音。他的網站：www.promeneursecoutant.fr

聲音來自冰湖，在特定的大氣條件下，當冰崩裂，聲波傳遞於湖面。更多資訊和聲音片段在這兒：www.kalerne.net

本週有兩個聆聽練習，需要各位參與者在中永和進行：
1. 選擇一個地方，一段時間，描述聽到的聲音們
2. 選擇一個聽見的聲音，盡量描述它，注意不要有任何關於聲音來源的訊息（真實或想像的都不要）

01/09/2011 : First session of the workshop at Small Idea Bookshop, in Yonghe, New Taipei City, Taiwan.

The topics were : What is a sound - How to describe a sound - Energy, Frequencies & Space.

The extract played during the session was a recording by Marc Namblard (Fr). Visit his website : www.promeneursecoutant.fr

The sound was produced by a frozen lake, under specific atmospheric conditions, when the ice cracks, acoustic waves travels at the surface of the lake. More informations and sound extracts here : www.kalerne.net

For the next session participants will make one of these two listening exercises in the areas of Yonghe & Zhonghe :
1. choose a place, choose a duration, and make a descriptive list of the sounds heard.
2. choose a sound that was heard and try to describe as much as possible, without any reference to its source (real or imaginary).